Lubricant applicator for pipe fittings and method of use

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an applicator including a container and a removable top. The top defines a nozzle shape and allows the application of lubricant to be applied in a focused manner. Additionally, the material from which the top and container are made are non-reactive with the lubricant and additionally are squeezable. In addition, to being squeezable the container does not become damaged upon repeated squeezings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to the field of plumping. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying, with precision, lubricant to a particular structure, namely a pipe fitting.

Traditionally, plumbers and like tradesman have applied pipe lubricant to a variety of surfaces in order to fit pipes and the like. Ordinarily, a workman will simply reach in and dab a bit of lubricant on his hand or the fitting. This clearly results in imprecise application of lubricant as well as contamination of the entire source of lubricant itself.

As is well understood, lubricant is a vital tool for the tradesman in the pipe fitting industry. As costs for oil and their refined products continue to rise, it becomes increasingly more important to fully utilize such products as lubricant to keep costs from spiraling out of control. A failure to do so, can make the plumbing organization non-competitive. Of course, the opposite is true of a plumbing organization which can, in fact, maximize such resources.

The haphazard application of lubricant is hardly a way of maximizing such a vital resource. Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus to apply lubricant in a manner that performs the work needed and also maximizes it for extending the life of such a resource.

Perhaps an even greater source of waste of lubricant is contamination. When the tradesman dips his hand or tool or the pipe fitting itself into the lubricant, the particles from the outside element contaminate the source of lubricant. When particulates get into the lubricant at the source, the lubricant can fail to perform its task. The particulates create friction and so the contaminated lubricant, instead of providing a reduction in friction, actually adds friction.

Thus, once contamination has reached the source of the lubricant, either the tradesman takes a chance that the lubricant might work or the entire vat of lubricant must be tossed and thus wasted.

Instead of allowing, the entire vat of lubricant to become contaminated, a novel apparatus and method has been developed which allows the tradesman to apply the lubricant in a precise manner and to prevent general contamination of entire source of the lubricant, namely the vat of lubricant used generally by the tradesman.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which allows a tradesman to apply precisely lubricant to a pipe fitting.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such an apparatus which minimizes the chances of contamination of the lubricant source.

In accordance with the above objects and those that will be mentioned and will become apparent below, the apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises a squeezable applicator which is capable of applying lubricant to pipe fittings in a precise manner.

Generally, the applicator, in accordance with this invention, comprises:

-   -   a container for storing lubricant;     -   a removable top for at least partially closing the container;     -   the removable top having a first end adapted for connection to         the container and a second end defining a nozzle end; and

the container being squeezable and when squeezed stored lubricant urged to exit the container through the nozzle end.

In an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, the container is made from a squeezable material. The container of this embodiment can be squeezed repeatedly without damage or degradation. This container is used over and over again to provide adequate service in lubricating pipe fittings without contamination to the general source of the lubricant on the job, e.g. the vat.

In another exemplary embodiment, the nozzle end defines a frusto conical shape. This shape allows precise location of the lubricant for efficient and effective use of the lubricant.

In either or both of the above exemplary embodiments, the apparatus container and top are made from material which does not react with the lubricant. It will be appreciated that lubricants have a corrosive quality with some materials. Thus, in order to provide a durable container, the container and, of course, the top, must be non-reactive with the lubricant.

It is an advantage of this invention to a provide an apparatus which allows the tradesman to apply lubricant in a focused fashion to the pipe fitting without contaminating the general source of such lubricant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention having the container partially filled with lubricant.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with respect to FIG. 1, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention shown generally by the numeral 10. The applicator 10 includes a container 12 and a top 14 for the container 12.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the top 14 includes threads, not shown, on its interior and the container has a neck 16. On the exterior of the neck 16, there are threads, not shown. The threads of the neck 16 and the top interior are compatible and form a seal upon full engagement as shown in the FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the top 14 defines an end 18. The end 18 is in the shape of a nozzle or funnel and defines a frusto-conical shape. As noted earlier, it is advantageous to be able to apply the lubricant with some precision. By adapting the top end 18 into a frusto conical shape, the tradesman is easily able to precisely do just that.

The material from which the container 12 and top 14 is critical. The material must be able to withstand repeated squeezings and also not react to the caustic elements of the lubricant. Materials such as engineering plastic and the like are well suited for this purpose.

As shown in FIG. 2, lubricant 20, at least partially, fills the container. At the appropriate time, as shown in FIG. 3, lubricant is applied to the pipe fitting.

In use, the container 12 is turned upside down, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. Then the container is squeezed such that the lubricant flows from container 12 through the top 14 and out the nozzle end 18 on the precise area of the pipe fitting desired.

Upon emptying the container of lubricant, the tradesman goes back the source of the lubricant, typically a vat of lubricant. As can be appreciated the container is not contaminated and can be re-filled without contaminated the source of lubricant.

Thus, the objects and advantages discussed above are met by the method and apparatus in accordance with the invention herein.

While the foregoing detailed description has described several embodiments of the golfing game in accordance with this invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. Particularly, the apparatus may be of varying sizes and shapes and still fit within the spirit and scope of the invention. distance. It will be appreciated that the embodiments discussed above and the virtually infinite embodiments that are not mentioned could easily be within the scope and spirit of this invention. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the claims as set forth below. 

1. An applicator for applying lubricant to pipe fittings, comprising: a container for storing lubricant; a removable top for at least partially closing the container; the removable top having a first end adapted for connection to the container and a second end defining a nozzle end; and the container being squeezable and when squeezed stored lubricant urged to exit the container through the nozzle end.
 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the container is made from a material which can be squeezed and re-squeezed while suffering no irreversible damage.
 3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the container and the removable top are made from a made which does not react with pipe lubricant.
 4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the container is made from a material which can be squeezed and re-squeezed while suffering no irreversible damage.
 5. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the removable top comprises a screw top and wherein the container includes mating thread means for compatible removable engagement of the top.
 6. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the removable top nozzle end defines a frusto conical shape for applying precise amounts of lubricant to the fitting. 